NATIONAL BRIEFING REPORT

[lovejoy]

National Briefing Report

Ahead of the forthcoming 48 hours strikes a full national briefing of all senior officials took place on Monday in London. We hope that this report will give further emphasis to the need to support YOUR union now more than ever.

The meeting was opened by Dave Ward DGS(P)

Dave started by thanking every single CWU rep in the Country for their hard work thus far during the dispute. He acknowledged that the climate reps were in now was unlike any other we have faced.

It was stated that Royal Mail were targeting reps all over the Country and the briefing was assured that these issues would be dealt with.

The CWU and Royal Mail see the future of the industry in two completely different directions. Royal Mail wants to constantly make cuts with no regard to their employees or customer service. The CWU are looking to work with the business to look after employees and customer whilst insuring the business has a viable long term future.

As well as pressure locally the postal executive council have also come under a great deal of pressure. Vital decisions have been made including escalating the action.

The PEC feels that there was no other option but to move to 48hr strikes. Royal Mail is making threats across the Country to introduce changes by Executive action and we must make a stand.

The members need to weigh up what is at stake. Members will lose money by not taking action but a lot more will be lost if Royal Mail get their way.

There have been mixed reaction to the announcement of 48 hours strikes but 99% of members no realise we have no other choice. In addition to the announcement of the 48 hr strikes the union left a 15 day gap to offer Royal Mail the chance to resume negotiations.

Dave Ward inspired the briefing by stating that members and reps nationwide cannot afford to blink in the coming days. This action will determine the direction of the dispute as a whole.

Royal Mail has stated that the colleagueshares scheme will inspire employees across the Country to make yet more savings. This point is ridiculed by the massive support the CWU have had for the Industrial Action

He spoke of the need to postpone the previous action after Royal Mail agreed to negotiations. It showed that (a) we had changed Royal Mails position of no negotiations, (b) More money has been offered which once again exposes Royal Mails previous stance and (c) after stating there would be no more movement Royal Mail once again put back their proposed operational changes.

Dave clearly put across the point that the document (copies sent to all members) was 100% written by Royal Mail.

Pensions is obviously a key issue in the dispute and the CWU will not run away from this, however the national union will not allow pension talks to take place in a national pay / conditions dispute.

All members in Royal Mail Group (Parcelforce, Counters, customer services, Quadrant, ROMEC) are in the pension’s scheme and if any proposals are to be considered then they must be dealt with as a group wide issue.

Royal Mail is continuing to push collegueshares. The union see this as immoral given the fact that the business claim to (a) have no money and (b) are asking us to foot the bill for the pension’s deficit. The business has a estimated £1million set aside for collegueshares.

Allan Leighton was unsuccessful in his bid for real shares and see’s colleagueshares as the consolation prize.

The union insisting that any final settlement must include all grades – OPG, MDEC, LAs

Royal Mail want a simpler pay package with allowances consolidated into basic pay. This would result in winners and losers.

Dave finished by stating that talks were now taking place but the action would go on until an agreement is reached. WE MUST NOT BLINK.

Bob Gibson – National Outdoor Secretary

Royal Mail wants a completely new delivery model. The CWU put an alternative document to Royal Mail that concentrating on maintaining full-time work. Proposal was rejected out of hand by business.

Royal Mail has stated that they will make changes in the delivery network with or without the CWU.

Bob stated that if Royal Mail introduced flexibility into the workplace then it would be the end of the unions influence at local everyday level. You would be at the mercy of your line manager on a permanent basis.

As previously reported management would have the power to move your start/finish time by +/- 30 mins with 24 hours notice or by +/- 2 hours with 7 days notice.

The proposals would also leave delivery staff to cover any leave / sick for NO EXTRA PAY. Any extra work would have to be absorbed.

D2D / election material payments currently make up a large percentage of most delivery workers pay packets. Under Royal Mails proposals any payments would be taken away and the work simply absorbed.

Bob spoke of the need for Delivery workers nationwide to support the national unions ‘do your job properly’ campaign. Members who come in early, miss breaks and take their cars are cutting their own throat.

Royal Mail has stated that all delivery staff make at least 2 hours per day everyday! IT IS ON THIS BASIS THAT THEY HAVE MADE THEIR OPERATIONAL PROPOSALS. It is no good living in denial anymore. Royal Mail does not care if you use your car, come in early and miss your break to make just 5 minutes. They will fill that 5 minutes. Its time for us all to wake up before it is too late.

Royal Mail is also claiming that traffic in delivery offices is falling. Any delivery worker will know what an untruth that is! DSA and competition may have had an impact in RDCs but the weight is still on the back of our delivery members.

Royal Mail intend to make a further £178million of savings out of delivery offices BEFORE AUTOMATION COMES IN.

The only way for us to prove to Royal Mail how misguided their plans are is for every delivery worker to start ‘doing the job properly’

Billy Hayes – Political Campaigning

Billy made it clear that the CWUs political and industrial strategies must be tied together.

The union have applied to the Government under the freedom of information act to see the full details of Royal Mails commercial loan deal.

Royal Mail has continued to state that they have no money for our members pay yet they have £1 billion set aside for redundancy payments. This money could be better used raising postal workers pay and improving the service.

The loan from the Government has a 12.5% interest rate. TNT is challenging the legalities of the loan on the basis that state aid has been given to Royal Mail.

The CWU are now campaigning heavily for the abolition of POSTCOMM.

There is real pressure on the Government and Royal Mail. Rumours are abound that an November 1st General Election could be called. There is no way that an election could be held in the middle of a postal dispute.

Billy echoed Dave Wards message that we must all stick together because now more than ever we needed to send a clear message to Royal Mail.

Ray Ellis – National Officer – PENSIONS

Royal Mail has previously stated that they would start the 60 day pensions consultation from 1st Oct 2007. This has not happen as of yet and is a direct result of CWU pressure.

As previously reported Royal Mail are looking to
• Close scheme to new entrants
• Increase age of retirement from 60 to 65
• Reduce benefits for all members
The impact of the proposed changes would have a wide ranging affect and the CWU are working on a calculation that will enable all members to perform a self analysis of how the changes would affect them.

For example a 40 year old with 20 years service would lose over £7000 from their lump sum and over £2000 per year from their pension.
SURELY THIS HELPS TO PUT THE LOSS FOR STRIKE ACTION INTO PERSPECTIVE!!!

IT IS A FACT THAT IF ROYAL MAIL HAD NOT TAKEN A 17 YEAR PENSIONS HOLIDAY THERE WOULD BE NO PROBLEM NOW.

The CWU want to retain the right for members to retire at 60 – with no loss of pension!

A full pension’s brief will be sent to all branched and should be cascaded to members.

Summing Up

• In summing up the briefing Dave Ward spoke of how the union and all members were at a crossroads.

• Talks are taking place this week but members must remain focused until an agreement is made.

• The need to support the CWU was now greater than ever before.

• By sticking with the union members were making a stand and protecting the futures.

• Any member considering crossing a picket line would be conceding the fact that it is acceptable to change our pensions, introduce total flexibility, attack our earnings, remove pay/job protection agreement and deteriorate public service levels.

In short Royal Mail wants you to pay for their mistakes. 18 months ago Allan Leighton and Adam Crozier were heralding the greatest turnaround in the company’s history. Now they are pleading with us all that the company is in dire straights. In any other job / industry heads would have rolled over this farce.

This dispute is a matter of trust. TRUST YOUR UNION TO PROTECT YOUR FUTURES. SUPPORT THE 48 HOURS STOPPAGES FOR YOUR SAKE!!

SHORT TERM PAIN
LONG TERM GAIN

Kindest Regards
*************************************
YOUR Area Representatives

[Wild Rover]

There is real pressure on the Government and Royal Mail. Rumours are abound that an November 1st General Election could be called. There is no way that an election could be held in the middle of a postal dispute.

Interesting. Perhaps, at last, the Government might be forced into acting...

[madelin4]

Royal Mail has continued to state that they have no money for our members pay yet they have £1 billion set aside for redundancy payments.


I thought they didnt want to pay us redundancies???? What be the minimum amout we wud get for each year worked??

[cruisey]

Good post lovejoy. I spoke to my area sec about the pnsion fiasco this morning and have already started briefing to members the fact they are 3 grand a year worse off when they retire, also the attack on the lump sum.
Anyone in their right mind who still works the strikes is a loser. All because ''they can't afford to lose 4 days pay. On the wednesday after the strike i'd like to give them a copy of the proposals so they can shaft themselves with it.

[Edward Hunter]

The stampede for redundancy would be overwhelming, providing the payout was ok.

[Edward Hunter]

Good post lovejoy. I spoke to my area sec about the pnsion fiasco this morning and have already started briefing to members the fact they are 3 grand a year worse off when they retire, also the attack on the lump sum.
Anyone in their right mind who still works the strikes is a loser. All because ''they can't afford to lose 4 days pay. On the wednesday after the strike i'd like to give them a copy of the proposals so they can shaft themselves with it.

I anticipate quite alot more are going in at my place. Some cant look at the bigger picture as their financial plight is so dire, some wont look at it as they are all for short term gain, and some, because of sheer stupidity dont even know what picyure they are supposed to be looking at!

[genesis]

Problem is they want to change the MSTF agreement. Which obviously means less redundancy than it is now.

[lesley51]

i say all stick togther and beat them no divisions just bt them :lfo :lfo

[lardyboy]

thats the best report on a national briefing i have ever come across - what would we do without this site for information?

[donut]

DON`T YOU MEAN .... WHAT WOULD WE DO WITHOUT LOVEJOY !!

HE IS THE REUTERS OF THE FORUM !!!!

[BELIAL]

If I was the only one to resign would I get the £1 billion?

[deadbox]

I just DON'T KNOW how anyone could ever consider crossing the line when they KNOW whats in store if the RM talliban ( headed by Osama Bin Leighton ) get their way

[BELIAL]

Some of us crossed the line for a piss last time, you should've seen the faces of the strike breakers who had turned up at 4am to avoid the line , whiter shade of pale does'nt do it justice

[chayoliver]

The stampede for redundancy would be overwhelming, providing the payout was ok.

If we let royal mail scrap the mtsf agreement as proposed you can kiss goodbye to a decent redundancy payment at the moment with 23 years i'd get about £28 k scrap the mtsf under the new deal and youd get something like 1 weeks pay for every year but i think theirs a ceiling on it of about £8 k
40,000 jobs would go on the very cheap and guess whod get a nice £1m bonus agaiin for doing that :lfo :cfo

[Macca]

The stampede for redundancy would be overwhelming, providing the payout was ok.

If we let royal mail scrap the mtsf agreement as proposed you can kiss goodbye to a decent redundancy payment at the moment with 23 years i'd get about £28 k scrap the mtsf under the new deal and youd get something like 1 weeks pay for every year but i think theirs a ceiling on it of about £8 k
40,000 jobs would go on the very cheap and guess whod get a nice £1m bonus agaiin for doing that :lfo :cfo

This is the minimum by law, which no doubt :cfo and :lfo would try to enforce???

This is how the minimum is calculated.

If you are 41 or over:
For each complete year of employment after your 41st birthday, but before you turn 65, you should get one and a half week's pay

If you are aged 22-40:
For each complete year of employment after your 22nd birthday, but before you turn 41, you should get one week's pay

If you are aged 18-21:
For each complete year of employment while you were either 18, 19, 20 or 21 you should get half a week's pay.

But you can only count:

up to 20 years' service
your pay up to a fairly modest weekly limit. Until 1 February 2002, the limit is £240. It is
uprated each year in line with the Retail Price Index.
Two bits of good news:


you do not have to pay tax on redundancy payments less than £30,000
receiving a redundancy payment does not affect your right to claim unemployment benefit.

A quick calculation and i think the most anyone could possibly get with twenty years service is £4800, based on the maximum of £240 x 20

More at.... http://www.tuc.org.uk/tuc/rights_redund ... undancypay

:cfo :lfo